Young & Worried

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timestop
timestop Member Posts: 4
edited February 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

Hi everyone, I'm pretty stressed right now juggling a lot of appointments and I don't really have anyone else with a similar experience I can talk to.

I'm 19 years old, I turn 20 at the end of March. I'm pretty conscious of my health, so I've been doing regular monthly self breast exams since I was about 15. About a week and a half ago, I found a lump in my left breast that wasn't there when I did my self exam the month prior. I waited a couple days to see if it would dissipate, but I was just very worried and decided to make an appointment with my OBGYN.

I was fit into an appointment the next day, told I definitely had a pretty suspicious lump about 1-2cm from my gyn and was sent immediately over to an imaging centre with orders for an ultrasound and mammogram. While I was there, the imaging centre refused to do a mammogram on me because I was too young apparently. My ultrasound was sent to a general surgeon my gyn referred me to. This was yesterday.

This morning, I got a call from the surgeon's office saying my ultrasound had not been reviewed but I have an appointment set up for March 10th (3 weeks away). After about two hours, I got a call back from the receptionist at the surgeon's office saying "actually, we need to see you this Monday".

Wasn't told anything about the ultrasound, but the shuffling around of appointments, the unknown variables, etc are pretty worrying to me.

I have high hopes that it is not cancer, because I'm so young, and I'm hoping it's just a cyst or a fibroadenoma but all of the unknowns and how it's treated with such imperative is just.. troubling.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2016

    My first suggestion is to get an appt. with a breast surgeon - not a 'general surgeon'.

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  • timestop
    timestop Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2016

    Ah, she was who was recommended by my OBGYN. She's listed as a general surgeon on the pamphlet I was given, but says she specializes in benign and malignant breast disease?

    I'm not really keen with this process, I was referred there and I figured if she was who my OBGYN wanted me to see then I should go with this doctor.

    My OBGYN's office is closed, but I'll call back in the morning and ask if I should seek out someone else.

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited February 2016

    timestop, my breast surgeon is also a general surgeon, but he is THE surgeon in town when you want/need the best breast surgeon, He's also the head of the tumor board. There are very few "breast only" surgeons; most are general surgeons who specialize in breast surgery. Sounds like the surgeon you were referred to could be one of these specialists. Good luck!

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  • timestop
    timestop Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2016

    I think that might be the case, I've done a bit of research on her just looking online since I've yet to meet her but she's a member of the american society of breast surgeons so I think that's right, thank you!

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  • EstelaLorca
    EstelaLorca Member Posts: 98
    edited February 2016

    Timestop, I just wanted to say that it's so important that your are being proactive about your health. Come what may, you did the right thing in making an appointment with your OBGYN. I also find it disturbing that you were refused a mammogram.

    I hope that things move quickly for you and that you get answers soon so that you don't have to worry so much. The waiting is the worst. (((Paste in virtual hug)))

    Good luck!!!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited February 2016

    Estela, mammograms are pretty much worthless on a teenager. Their breasts are too dense for the mammogram to "see" anything

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2016

    Ultrasound is better than a mammogram; hope that whatever is going on is B9!

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  • timestop
    timestop Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2016

    Melissa,

    That's very good to know! I was never told a reason for it when I was at the imaging centre, just that I would be contacted and told if I needed to come back for a mammo. So, that makes me feel better knowing why that's the case, thank you.

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  • Juliana1835
    Juliana1835 Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2016

    Hey Timestop! I saw your post and want to try to ease your mind if possible. I was 19 when I had a benign fibroadenoma removed. This was 20 years ago, and thankfully things are generally better now in that needle biopsies with u/s are less invasive. I'm kinda surprised you weren't referred for an ultrasound guided needle biopsy first, but maybe you will discuss this at your appointment.

    Fibroadenomas, if that's what you have, are common in women your age. Some of us are prone to get them. I just had 2 more removed! I'm hardly a teenager (40), but I for some reason these things like me.

    You are doing the right thing. Keep in mind your age is is a good thing. Let us know how it goes!

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